CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    January 27, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks (20-19-11) hosted the Nashville Predators (23-18-8) last night at Rogers Place, beginning a three game home stand.

In Vancouver’s first home game since the completion of their 6-game road trip, the Canucks fell behind early, and found it difficult to execute their game plan against the Predators, who played well in all facets of their game.

VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 26: Brandon Sutter #21 of the Vancouver Canucks scores on Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators during their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 26, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brandon Sutter scored his first goal in 33 games on his return to the line-up from a sports hernia operation;  Chris Tanev had an assist (1-7=8 in last 15 games played); Daniel Sedin picked up a helper (5-2=7 in last 12 games played); and Ryan Miller stopped 17 of 19 shots for a .895 Sv%., but it was not enough as the Canucks ended the game on the short end of the score, losing 2-1 to Nashville, to begin their 3-game home stand.

The Canucks are now 6-5-1 in their last 12 home games; and in their last four home games, are 2-1-1.

VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 26: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a glove save against the Nashville Predators during their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 26, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nashville won 2-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Nashville Predators, on a fast start, opened up the game with some great scoring opportunities and eventually popped one of them in, opening up the scoring on their first shot on net, to take a 1-0 lead before most were able to sit down with their beer and popcorn.

Craig Smith, his 11th goal of the season, on a deflected shot, assisted by Mike Fisher (5) and Mattias Ekholm (14) at 0:59.

Once again, the Canucks were caught flatfooted, as another opponent scored the opening goal on home ice, thinking that the All-Star break started a little early and they didn’t have to earn it.

And it was more of the same, the rest of the game.

It took seven minutes but the Canucks would catch up to the Predators in shots with 2 each, eventually overtaking Nashville on a great Bo Horvat rush to the Predators net, where he not only got the shot off but crashed the net.

The Predators were not only dominating the game in scoring opportunities but also ruling the face-off circle as they went into the last half of the period, winning 5 of 7 face-offs, including 3 for 3 in the neutral zone.

Brandon Sutter would work his magic in his first game back, as he was instrumental in the Canucks first goal of the game, on their 6th shot of the opening period. Sutter fed Daniel Sedin as pass, who then returned the puck to him, and Sutter buried the puck behind Pekka Rinne to tie the game at 1-1.

Sutter, his first goal in 33 games, his 5th of the season, on a deflected shot, assisted by Daniel Sedin (23) and Chris Tanev (10), at 11:39.

The Predators would get the first power play of the game when Emerson Etem would get a minor penalty for tripping Miikka Salomaki at 12:09.

Sutter would have a chance shorthanded to give Vancouver the lead as he went in on Rinne all alone but was unable to score.

With 4:08 left, the Canucks were out shooting Nashville 10-6, and the Predators continued to dominate the faceoff circle, as they had won 9 of 12 face-offs up to that point.

At 15:54 Derek Dorsett and Cody Bass would drop the gloves and fight, both receiving five minute fighting majors.

Canucks, Predators 1-1 after the opening period.

After one period:

• Canucks out shot Nashville, 12-6.
• Nashville ruled face-offs, winning 12 of 16. A total embarrassment for Vancouver.
• Vancouver had 6 hits to 5 for the Predators; Canucks penalty kill was 1 for 1.
• Brandon Sutter and Alex Biega led Canucks in shots with 3 each.
• Linden Vey was 2 for 5; Bo Horvat, 1 for 4 in Canuck face-offs.
• Alex Biega and Adam Cracknell led Canucks in hits with 2 each.
• Canuck players Corsi For:
  • In all situations:
    • Daniel Sedin, Matt Bartkowski, and Jannick Hansen, 8 each
    • Alex Biega and Brandon Sutter 7 each
  • Even strength 5v5:
    • Sedin and Bartkowski, 8
    • Biega and Hansen, 7
    • Sutter and Tanev, 6
• Teams Corsi For:
  • Canucks 15, Nashville 7: at even strength 5 v5
  • Canucks 16 Nashville 8: in all situations.

Both teams came out skating for the middle frame, with the Canucks showing more desire to get the go ahead goal.

Nashville would get their second power play of the game when Matt Bartkowski would go off for tripping Filip Forsberg at 7:20.

Nashville had no shots on their power play and were being out shot 4 to 1, after the Canucks penalty kill, which was 2 for 2 in the game.

Canucks were settling down in the face-off circle, as they were 5 for11, at the 13-minute mark of the period.

Vancouver would get their first power play of the game, on a sloppy line change by Nashville, for too many men on the ice, a bench minor, at 14:28.

The Canucks once again failed to score on the power play, now 1 for 10 in their last 7 games.

Canucks were out shooting Nashville, 11 to 4 with 3:23 left in the middle period; 23 to 10 in the game.

Predators, Canucks still 1-1 after two periods.

After two periods:

• Canucks out shooting Nashville, 24-11.
• Nashville ruled face-offs, winning 20 of 33. A total embarrassment for Vancouver.
• Vancouver had 10 hits to 13 for the Predators; Canucks penalty kill was 2 for 2.
• Canucks power play 0 for 1.
• Brandon Sutter,Alex Biega, Daniel Sedin and Sven Baertschi led Canucks in shots with 3 each.
• Linden Vey was 5 for 10; Bo Horvat, 6 for 11 in Canuck face-offs.
• Alex Biega, Adam Cracknell and Luca Sbisa led Canucks in hits with 2 each.
• Teams Corsi For:
  • Canucks 27, Nashville 18 at even strength 5 v5
  • Canucks 32 Nashville 20 in all situations
• Canuck players Corsi For:
  • In all situations:
    • Tanev, 14; Sedin and Edler, 12; Vey, Bartkowski, Baertschi, 11 each
  • Evev strength 5v5:
    • Tanev, 12 Bartkowski, 11; Edler, Biega, Sedin, 10 each

The Predators and Canucks would be out hard for the final period, but it would be Nashville that would get the first man advantage opportunity early in the period.

Ben Hutton would get a minor for hooking Mike Ribiero at 1:26. Canucks would survive being shorthanded, making it 3 for 3 on the penalty kill for the game.

The Predators would continue to press Vancouver, taking an early lead in shots in the period 5-0.

With Arizona having lost, a Canucks victory would lock the two teams in a tie in the division standings but the Canucks were not the dominating team in the period.

With 12:20 left in the game, Canucks had not registered a shot on net and were being out shot 6-0 by Nashville; but the Canucks were 2 for 3 in face-offs

The Canucks just were not being allowed to generate any offense in the Nashville end, except for the occasional rush which was not amounting to much.

Predators were doing a good job of getting in the way of Vancouver and either deflecting or blocking opportunities for shots on net or passes.

With less than eight minutes left in the game, the Canucks were generating good scoring chances but were just unable to get some puck luck to get shots on net and get the go ahead goal.

While the Canucks were trying to complete a change, Nashville took advantage of the Canucks, and went up 2-1, with time not a friend to the Canucks.

James Neal, at 15:16, his 18th of the season, on a wrist shot, from Barrett Jackman (2).

With 1:49 left and only 4 shots on net, the Canucks would get a power play when Mattias Ekholm would get penalized for holding against Bo Horvat in the neutral zone at 18:11.

Soon after the resulting face-off, the Canucks would pull Miller for the extra attacker in an attempt to get the tie breaking goal.

With the seconds ticking away, Linden Vey had a great opportunity to put the game into overtime, but would miss scoring, and Nashville would take the game, 2-1.

With the loss, Vancouver falls 5th place in the Pacific division, tied with Anaheim for 4rth, with 51 points. The Canucks are 2 points behind Arizona who are in 3rd; 5 points behind San Jose; and 12 points behind division leading Los Angeles, who have 63 points.

GAME REVIEW

CANUCKS PLAYERS STATS

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS

CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    January 26, 2016

The Vancouver Canucks (20-18-11) host the Nashville Predators (22-18-8) tonight at Rogers Place, beginning a three game home stand.

The Canucks are 6-4-1 in their last 11 home games.

Vancouver is undefeated in regulation play in their last three home games, going 2-0-1, as they look at extending that streak tonight in their last home game of January.

The Nashville Predators are in the midst of a four game Western Canada road trip that has them unbeaten with two straight wins coming into Vancouver after victories over Winnipeg and Edmonton, both by 4-1 scores.

Nashville is 4-6-1 in their last 11 games, including suffering four straight losses in that span between January 5 and January 12.

Vancouver returns to the friendly confines of Rogers Place after a 6-game road trip, where they were 3-2-1, and where Daniel Sedin scored his 347 and 348th goal in his NHL career, all in a Canucks uniform, to become the Canucks All-Time leading goal scorer, surpassing Markus Nasland, who had 346.

The Canucks are 8-4-2 in their last 14 games overall; 4-2-1, at home and on the road, since December 22nd.

Since January 5, Vancouver boasts the 5th-highest penalty kill percentage in the NHL at 90.5 percent.

Since December 13, the Canucks power play has been zeros and ones:

• From December 13 thru January 1, the power play was 0 for 20, over 9 games and their record was 4-4-1.
• Then from January 4 thru January 14, the Canucks power play had a  single power play goal in five consecutive games, 5 for 16; their record, 2-2-1.
• Since January 15, Vancouver has gone five games with zero power play goals, 0 for 6, with their record 3-1-1.

The Canucks will have 20 home games and 13 road games remaining in their season schedule after tonight.

Brandon Sutter will play against Nashville, after missing 33 games with a sports hernia. Sutter, was injured November 10 and had surgery December 1.

COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Brandon Sutter #21 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 10, 2015 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

“I’m excited to get a game in and get playing again and get my feet under me again,” -Brandon Sutter.

Source: canucks.nhl.com

As for the coach and the return of Sutter to the line-up:

“The young guys stepped in and played great, but it will be good to have him back” – Coach Desjardins on Sutter

Source: @VanCanucks Twitter

Ryan Miller will start in goal for the Canucks, his first home start since December 9, when he faced the New York Rangers and stopped 32 of 33 shots for a .970 Sv%, in a 2-1 Vancouver win. Since then, Miller has been 2-4-2 in eight road games, with a 3.42 GAA and .910 Sv%.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: Ryan Miller #30 of the Vancouver Canucks keeps his eyes on the puck during the first period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Miller’s record at home this season is 5-4-3 in 12 games, with a 2.42 GAA and .920 Sv%., averaging 30.25 shots per game.

CANUCKS PREVIOUS GAME

In Vancouver’s previous game on January 23 in Pittsburgh, the final game of the 6-game road trip, the Canucks looked in complete control of their own destiny for forty-seven minutes and sixteen seconds (47:16), until Vancouver seemed completely disheveled by Linden Vey scoring on his own net, and in 5:44 of game time, the Canucks went from having a two goal, 3-1 lead, to falling behind by a goal, 4-3, to the Penguins. The two teams would exchange goals after Pittsburgh got their first lead of the game, with the Penguins winning 5 to 4.

Jannick Hansen chipped in with a hat trick, for 15 goals on the season; Bo Horvat, scored his 9th of the season (7th goal in his last 12 games); Ben Hutton had two assists (1-3=4 in 8 last 8 games played); Alex Edler and Derek Dorsett had helpers in consecutive games; Chris Tanev had an assist (1-6=7 in last 14 games played); Luca Sbisa got his first point since his return to the line up; Mike Zalewski, got his first assist as a Canuck. Ryan Miller stopped 25 of 29 shots for a .862 Sv%.

CANUCKS LAST HOME GAME

The Canucks last home game on January 11, before the 6-game road trip, was eventful, as Vancouver ended the Florida Panthers’  12-game winning streak, the longest since the Boston Bruins went 12-0-0 from March 2 to March 22, 2014, winning 3-2 in overtime.

Jake Virtanen, would even the game at 2-2 at 17:22 of the final period.

Starting goalie, Jacob Markstrom would  make some great stops in the final 2:38, as the Panthers did everything they could to get the go ahead goal, but time would run out in regulation play, with the game heading to overtime.

In the overtime, Vancouver would go to the power play as Emerson Etem would draw a penalty as Jaromir Jagr would get penalized for hooking him, at 2:07.

Then for the second time this season, the Canucks would be consecutive game spoilers, as Daniel Sedin would score on the power play, ending Florida’s consecutive winning streak, at 12 games.

As the Canucks were celebrating the win, the two benches would get into a scuffle, after words were exchanged. Cooler heads prevailed eventually allowing both teams to leave the ice, and continue the discussion of the ending with reporters.

CANUCKS JOTTINGS

In 2016, so far:

• Bo Horvat has 12 points in 10 games (7-5=12)
  • Horvat has scored 28% of the Canucks’ goals in this span.
• Henrik Sedin has 4 points in 8 games (0-4=4)
• Sven Baertschi has 6 points in 9 games (4-2=6)
• Chris Tanev has 6 points in 11 games (1-5=6)
• Linden Vey has 6 points in 11 games (1-5=6)
• Daniel Sedin has 6 points in 11 games (5-1=6)
• Daniel Sedin has 5 goals in 11 games.
• Shooting Percentage:
  • Sven Baertschi: 40 percent
  • Bo Horvat: 26.9 percent
  • Chris Tanev: 25 percent
  • Jannick Hansen: 21.4 percent
  • Daniel Sedin: 13.5 percent
  • Alex Burrows: 11.8 percent
  • Jake Virtanen: 7.7 percent
• Canucks record in 2016:
  • 6-3-2=14 PTS in  11 games played (tied for 9th best in the NHL)
  • They have 26 goals for; 28 goals against.
  • They are 5 for 25 on the power play for 20 percent (9th best in the NHL)
  • Their penalty killing is 21 for 25, 84.0 ( 14th best in the NHL)
  • Face-off winning percentage is 45.8 percent (30th in the NHL)
• Canucks are averaging 2.39 goals per game. For an 82 game schedule the estimate is Vancouver will finish with 196 goals. The least number of goals ever scored by a Vancouver team in a full season of 82 games are 192 by the 1998-99 Canucks. 
• Canucks penalty kill is  30 for 35, 85.7 percent in their last 10 road games shorthanded. And 45 for 59 in their last 16 road  games shorthanded, 76.3 percent.
• Vancouver’s power play is 1 for 20, 5 percent  in their last 12 road games with the man advantage.
• Vancouver has points in 8 of its last 11 (6-3-2=14 pts) & 13 of its last 20 games (10-7-3=23 pts).
• Vancouver had scored a power play goal in five straight games, where they have had at least one man advantage; they were 5 for 16 during that stretch, 31.3 percent, which ended against the Islanders.
• Canucks power play is 5 for 22 in their last 10 games with the man advantage, for 22.7 percent.
• Radim Vrbata collected his 41st career shootout goal Jan. 17/16 at NYI. He shares the lead for most shootout goals in League history with Frans Nielsen. 13 of those have been GDG, which ranks t-9th in League history.

When the Canucks started their road trip, they were in 4rth place in the Pacific division, tied with San Jose for 3rd spot, with 44 points; 4 points behind Arizona, in 2nd; 3 points in front of Anaheim and 4 points ahead of Calgary.

Vancouver as of today, are in 4rth place in their division, 3 points behind 2nd place San Jose; 2 points behind Arizona in 3rd place, looking for opponents of their division adversaries, to do what they can, to give them help in making the playoffs this season. Anaheim are on the Canucks coat tails, 2 points behind the Canucks; Calgary are 6 points back, with Edmonton, 10 points out of a playoff spot.

The Canucks division rivals have consistently had games in-hand on Vancouver, and with inflated numbers in the regulation loss and overtime loss column this season, over last season, it is only in the last month that Vancouver are becoming masters of their own destiny in a positive fashion, unlike in the beginning of the season.

As for Nashville, in the Predators last game on Saturday night, Mattias Ekholm had two goals; Filip Forsberg a goal and an assist; Mike Fisher potted his 6th goal of the season. Ryan Ellis, Shea Weber, and Roman Josi assists as well, as Nashville went into Rexall Place and defeated Edmonton 4 to 1. Pekka Rinne stopped 23 of 24 shots for a .958 Sv%.

NASHVILLE PREDATOR NOTES

• Ryan Johansen, who was acquired via trade from Columbus on Jan. 6, has had a highly-successful start to his career with the Nashville Predators, posting 9 points (3g-6a) in his first 8 games with the club. He notched his 200th career point (an assist) on Jan. 16 vs. Minnesota.
• In 38 games with Columbus Blue Jackets: 0.69 points/game (6g-20a-26pts) In seven games with Nashville Predators: 1.29 points/game (3g-6a-9pts)
• Three Nashville Predators – defensemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi, and goaltender Pekka Rinne – were selected to participate in the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, which will be held in Nashville on Jan. 30-31. Weber is making his fifth All-Star appearance, while Josi is slated to make his debut in the NHL showcase. Rinne was selected to participate in last year’s game, but was unable to attend due to injury. Weber won the Hardest Shot Competition at the 2015 Super Skills Competition with a 108.5 mph blast.
• The Nashville Predators have posted at least 30 shots in a game on 26 occasions in 2015-16, including six contests where the team had 40-plus shots. The team has also allowed 25 shots or fewer in 21 games, with the season low being 15 shots on Dec. 1 vs. Arizona. Nashville ranks near the top in fewest shots allowed per game.
• The Predators are 15-1-2 this season when leading after two periods. Their only regulation loss was against the St. Louis Blues.
• Nashville has points in 20 of 25 games when scoring the first goal of the game, posting a 16-5-4 record.
• The Predators are 11-16-3 this season when they register more shots than their opponent and are 12-4-3 when being out shot.
• Nashville has played in 24 one-goal games, earning points in 18 of those contests (10-6-8 record).
• The Predators have a 17-2-3 record when holding the opponent to two or fewer goals, and are 18-2-4 when scoring three goals or more.

Nashville are in 6th place in the Central division,12 points out 3rd place, and looking at a wild card position to make the playoffs at best, unless there is a remarkable change to the top three teams.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS ADVANCED STATISTICS

JANUARY 1, 2015  TO  JANUARY 22, 2015

EVEN STRENGTH 5V5

ALL TEAM STRENGTHS

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD STANDINGS

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE STANDINGS

2015-2016 VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS ALL TEAMS

CANUCKS PLAYER STATS

PREDATORS PLAYER STATS

STATISTICS COURTESY OF THE NHL AND VANCOUVER CANUCKS